Remember the old Latin American Xchange with Konnan and Homicide? The group that were believed held back because of their ethnic background? Well that group is back, with Konnan in a managerial role along with Homicide, Santana, Ortiz, and Diamante as active competitors. The core concept of the stable is that they are building their own revolution, creating a hostile takeover of GFW no matter what it takes.
While Konnan has since been retired, he has built his own empire with his own promotion, The Crash, and has been a creative genius in the world of wrestling. Homicide is a veteran of the wars in the ring for nearly 25 years, and is the mentor of many talented wrestlers in this generation. With the arrivals of Santana, Ortiz and Diamante, the veterans serve as mentors for the next generation of LAX to take over the world of professional wrestling.
While most people don’t know much about Santana & Ortiz, they are one of the most toughest tag teams in the New York area as EYFBO, and are the most dominant tag team in professional wrestling today. If they keep up this pace, they might be Tag Team of the Year because of their total dominance. Diamante is one tough customer, but she’s the smallest of the bunch. A fixture of the Florida wrestling scene, she has been one of the most popular women’s wrestlers in the area.
With the GFW Tag Team Championships under their belt, the group are continuing to build their empire with street violence and total intimidation. Plus with amazing vignettes and promos, the group is becoming more over with audiences. Despite being bad guys, they still have a large following in regards to Latinos. They talk about taking over the promotion by unleashing their brand of violence, much like Decay last year. Speaking of which, LAX just utterly destroyed the nefarious trio in a couple of solid matches between the two teams. While LAX is most hated among some fans, the group has been a dominant force that could bring toughness and ruthless aggression to the tag team division.
If all things come to pass, expect LAX to continue their dominance with Diamante being a force in the Knockouts Division, and Homicide playing a role in the Heavyweight title picture. If someone pulls the plug on LAX’s dominant run, it becomes more clear that the intimidation factor will be shattered. Just don’t hope it happens soon.

Rosemary has her grip on GFW Wrestling, but leaving there for WWE is out of the question.

For those who are saying that Rosemary should join WWE so that they can water her moveset down, do this and do that, they need to keep dreaming. In fact, it’s not every day she gets the same question from fans about jumping ship from IMPACT to Vince McMahon’s company, but at least she has made her position very clear. I doubt Triple H and the brain-trust over at WWE would know what to do with her. WWE is not the be all, end all for wrestling. There are plenty of alternatives.

She’s fine right where she is, at IMPACT Wrestling with all the hivelings. It’s been said plenty of times. I even supported her decision to stay at IMPACT Wrestling considering the fact that they are getting back on track with the new direction going forward. But I am sick of people asking someone from either IMPACT or Lucha Underground or maybe Ring Of Honor to join WWE to lose control over their destiny and hand it over to a creative team that doesn’t know what they are doing. That is not good. I support a wrsetler’s decision based on what they are planning to do in regards of their future, wheter it’s WWE or Lucha Underground or New Japan Pro Wrestling, they have total control of their destiny, not us fans.
If I asked Rosemary that question, I would never live myself down (Even if I ask her that question in interviews). The best thing everyone can do right now is just continue to enjoy her on IMPACT as she is now. She is the focal point of IMPACT and so far that hasn’t changed. I like the fact she has been in control of her own destiny and that she doesn’t let anybody make any decisions for her. But for now I can still enjoy Rosemary on IMPACT no matter what happens. Whatever happens down the line happens. If she does jump ship to WWE, I continue to support her no matter what.
So say what you want about Rosemary jumping ship, she won’t do it just yet. The rhetoric just won’t stop, but the best thing I can do is just wish her luck in whatever she does with the world of professional wrestling. It is the best way to do anyway, considering the landscape of wrestling right now. Like I said, the wrestlers control their own destiny, not the fans.

This Friday, NWA Big Apple will be presenting their upcoming show at the Wayne PAL in Wayne, New Jersey. In a press release, the promotion has undergone a re-organization process, when promoter Andrew “The Reinforcer” Anderson, who also wrestles for the National Wrestling Alliance, brought in Sal “Da Zip” Scalogna as a partner and they’ve brought in longtime wrestling referee Billy Caputo as the Commissioner of New York’s NWA franchise.

I’ve been a proud supporter of this organization as well as the NWA, which has reportedly been purchased by former IMPACT Wrestling President Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins. Corgan at one point wanted to purchase IMPACT Wrestling from Dixie Carter all for the sake of storylines and wrestling. But that attempt backfired when the courts ruled in favor of Dixie, but then she sold the majority of the company to Anthem Sports & Entertainment, which is based in Canada. Buying the NWA is something good for the future of the legendary brand, while some promotions might be in limbo for the time being, but they will put on great shows nonetheless.

NWA Big Apple promised fans a great show, and I hope they can pull it off.

Here’s the press release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Pro Wrestling Comes to Wayne This Friday

NWA’s Big Apple Franchise Promises Action-Packed Card

Wayne, New Jersey, June 3, 2017 – NWA North American Champ Mustang Mike will defend his title from Nasty Boy Jerry Sags at the inaugural show of the newly re-organized NWA Big Apple at the Wayne PAL this Friday evening, June 9th.

The Big Apple division of the National Wrestling Alliance was taken over last fall by Anderson, a fixture of the pro circuit for twenty years. Anderson brought in collaborator Sal “Da Zip” Scalogna as a partner in March, and they’ve signed on longtime pro wrestling referee Billy Caputo as the outfit’s Commissioner. The NWA has reportedly been purchased by Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins.

“We’re incredibly excited about doing our first show together,” says Anderson. “I’m honored to be asked to re-invigorate the Big Apple franchise. Sal and I have a vision, and that’s to bring old-school live wrestling to the tri-state area and amp up the excitement level at every show. We have some big surprises in store for the fans on Friday night.”

Scalogna says, “Friday’s show is called “Heat Wave” because the lineup of talent we’ve booked is dynamite. Our aim is to give the audience a great class of performers, while also giving up-and-comers a chance to prove themselves and build a fan base here in the New York area.”

Director of Operations Ray “Kuvatro” Morales, also performing Friday night, adds, “Plans are in the works for shows in New York and New Jersey in September, and possibly another down the shore.”

Tickets for the June 9th show can be purchased at the website or at the door. First-row “VIP” seats include a pre-show Meet & Greet, with the opportunity to chat with and take photos with the wrestlers.

The Wayne PAL is located at One PAL Drive, Wayne, New Jersey.

Like NWA Big Apple on Facebook at facebook.com/NWABIGAPPLE.

Follow me on Twitter @matthewhollie and The Barbwire Blog @BarbwireBlog

Ask any casual wrestling fan about the name Taya Valkyrie, and they’ll tell you that they don’t know much about her. Ask a wrestling fan who follows the sport religiously about her and they will know about her from her appearances on the hit El Rey Network series Lucha Underground. Ask anyone who knows about Taya, and they tell you, the woman behind the character, Kira Forster, is a lot more than meets the eye. Those who don’t know much about Taya will might as well learn now.

CHAMPIONSHIPS MAKE THE WOMAN: Taya is a two-time AAA Reina De Reinas Champion, her first reign being the longest with 945 days under her belt.

Before Taya even stepped in the ring, she was once was a classically trained ballet dancer in her hometown of Victoria, British Columbia. Since the age of four she had trained in gymnastics and studied dance and went on to study at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Those lessons in ballet and gymnastics make Taya who she is today. In 2005, she began competing in fitness competitions and doing fitness modeling. In 2010, Taya won 1st place in the CBBF Canadian Championships and finished 2nd in the Arnold Amateur in 2011, and that meant something, even for Taya. In addition, she was featured in several fitness magazines and calendars over the course of her fitness career.

TRAVELLING CHAMP: Taya earned recognition not only through AAA, but also Lucha Underground.

In 2010, Kira attended Storm Wrestling Academy, run by former WWE Superstar Lance Storm, in hopes of becoming a pro wrestler. An on September 2010, she officially graduated from the school. From there, she would then go on to compete at many different Canadian promotions, most notably ECCW, under the name Taya Valkyrie. It was ECCW that saw Taya team up with it went against the likes of KC Spinelli and Nicole Matthews. In October 2011, Taya was signed to a developmental contract with pro wrestling’s powerhouse promotion, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) after trying out with them for their roster. But unfortunately, after not making any officially-recorded debut in WWE or its other programs, Taya returned to wrestling in the independents and continued wrestling North of the Border for the remainder of 2011.

OVERSHADOWED: For most of her career, most people know the names of Cheerleader Melissa and Santana Garrett, but Taya is unknown; that is until Lucha Underground came along.

If the expression “One door closes, another one opens” was true to form, this might be it. Taya relocated to Mexico and began wrestling for various promotions within the country. She was originally supposed to stay in the country only for a six week run, but was convinced to stay by the late Perro Aguayo, who offered her a spot in his Los Perros Del Mal faction. Taya agreed and mafe her debut in Perros Del Mal in the beginning of April. She wrestled for the feared faction in Mexico for most of 2012 before moving on to work for other promotions including LEGEND Promociones, Universal Wrestling Entertainment, Invasion RCH and International Wrestling League.

For a small part of her career, you might say Taya is kind of overshadowed by the likes of Cheerleader Melissa, Santana Garrett, Saraya Knight and many others; but on November 3, 2012, Taya made her debut for the famed Mexican promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, where wrestling fans saw the rise of “La Wera Loca,” which is Spanish for “The Crazy White Girl” considering the fact that Taya hails from Canada. After facing off the likes of Sexy Star, Mari Apache and countless others, Taya captured the AAA Reina De Reinas Championship on August 17, 2014, proving that she won’t be overshadowed by anybody. After losing the title to Ayako Hamada earlier this year, Taya defeated her to run it for the second time. Her first run was the longest in that championship’s history, an incredible 945 days; which is longer than CM Punk’s WWE Championship reign. It is true that earning respect of your peers is something to be proud of, but Taya has earned respect from not only her peers, but the fans as well. Taya, made her National Television debut in Lucha Underground in 2016 as the partner/manager of Johnny Mundo (A former WWE Superstar in his own right). She made her in-ring debut on March, losing to Cage in a no disqualification match. Taya would later compete in Aztec Warfare II; and so far, she hasn’t looked back. Taya continues to turn heads on Lucha Underground, and it’s no surprise she has been a show-stealer for most of the series.

THE QUEEN SITS ON HER THRONE: Taya is dominate the women’s wrestling world with ease.

To say that Taya Valkyrie is on the same level as Melissa, Santana and plenty of others, but Taya is head and shoulders above the rest. But if that is the case, Taya would tell you, she has made her own path to greatness. To everyone, that’s saying something.

Ladies and gentlemen, here is the official poll survey for this year’s Barbwire Blog Awards. Winner of the Independent Tag Team of the Year competition is declared the winner. Voting ends at 9:00 p.m. EST on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2017. So vote now, every vote counts!

Ladies and gentlemen, here is the official poll survey for this year’s Barbwire Blog Awards. Winner of the Maninstream Tag Team of the Year competition is declared the winner. Voting ends at 9:00 p.m. EST on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2017. So vote now, every vote counts!

​​​Ladies and gentlemen, here is the official poll survey for this year’s Barbwire Blog Awards. Winner of the Female Independent Wrestler of the Year competition is declared the winner. Voting ends at 9:00 p.m. EST on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2017. So vote now, every vote counts!

​​Ladies and gentlemen, here is the official poll survey for this year’s Barbwire Blog Awards. Winner of the Female Mainstream Wrestler of the Year competition is declared the winner. Voting ends at 9:00 p.m. EST on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2017. So vote now, every vote counts!

​​Ladies and gentlemen, here is the official poll survey for this year’s Barbwire Blog Awards. Winner of the Male Independent Wrestler of the Year competition is declared the winner. Voting ends at 9:00 p.m. EST on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2017. So vote now, every vote counts!

​Ladies and gentlemen, here is the official poll survey for this year’s Barbwire Blog Awards. Winner of the Male Mainstream Wrestler of the Year competition is declared the winner. Voting ends at 9:00 p.m. EST on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2017. So vote now, every vote counts!